Brush assembly



Aug. 9, 1955 R. O. PETERSON BRUSH ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 50. 1951 I NI III N s Y m m R PM do 0. T m T Aug. 9, 1955 R. o. PETERSON 2,714,738

BRUSH ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 30, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. RUBEN O. PETERSON.

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent BRUSH ASSEMBLY Ruben 0. Peterson, University Heights, Ohio, assignor to The ()sborn Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 30, 1951, Serial No. 208,566

11 Claims. (Cl. -183) This invention relates as indicated to a novel brush assembly, and more particularly to brushing assemblies having more or less straight lengths of brush strip mounted in a suitable support.

In my prior Patent No. 2,303,386 I disclose a novel form of brush strip adapted to be produced in continuous lengths comprising a metal channelform back with stranded brush material doubled about a longitudinally extending retaining wire secured therein by teeth punched in from the sides of such back. Brush strip of this sort may be circularized, helically or otherwise, or cut into desired lengths for insertion in appropriate brush backs or holders. The ends of the severed channelform back of the. length of brush strip will preferably be pinched together to prevent loss of any of the brush material winch is, however, a minor problem with this type of brush strip since such material is firmly secured in the channel back by the retaining wire and teeth.

A variety of different forms of holders have been pro posed in the past for securing brush strip, either temporarily or permanently, in appropriate holders or for mounting the same on hubs or the like. In general, these have been characterized by various problems of assembly and disassembly and, also, in many cases, by a tendency for the parts to work loose under the, eifect of vibratory action in use. Particularly in the case of long lead helical brushes and other rotary brushes having brush strip extending axially thereof there has been considerable trouble involved in replacing worn brush elements. Where relatively straight lengths of brush strip have been seated in rotary mounting means by axial insertion, of the back of such strip in a solid grooved support, considerable frictional resistance is met. with in thus inserting the strip and later withdrawing the same for replacement. Furthermore, it has been diflicult to afford .sufiicient ventilation to brush assembliesof this latter type.

It is accordingly a primary object of my invention to provide a novel brush. assembly wherein lengths of brush strip may be inserted with a minimum of difficulty but which strip will then be firmly seated and secured in use.

Another object is to provide such brush assembly wherefrom such lengths of brush strip may readily be withdrawn for replacement when worn or when a different type of brushing action is desired.

Still another object is to provide a rotary brush assembly of relatively inexpensive construction including a central supporting structure in which, lengths of brush strip may be seated and secured with such strip extending in a direction generally parallel to theaxis of such support, such lengths of brush strip, generally being either straight or of long leadhelical conformation.

A further object is to provide such rotary brush assembly of relatively open construction to facilitate ventilation of the same in use as well as to permit the. feeding of fluids such as liquids, gases. or discrete particles internally thereof with such fluids being permitted to. escape generally radially of the brush under the influence of centrifugal force.

Other objects of my invention will appear as the description proceeds.

2,714,738 Patented Aug. 9, 1955 To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention then comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is an end elevational view of a novel rotary brush assembly comprising one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the brush of Fig. 1 axially thereof with certain portions sectioned and broken away better to disclose the internal construction of the same;

Fig. 3 is an end view of one of the discs comprising an important element of the brush strip seating means;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view of a small portion of such disc showing the manner of seating such brush strip therein;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view corresponding to Fig. 4 buctI edgewise of the disc in which the brush strip is seated; an

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to such drawing, the embodiment of my invention there illustrated comprises a, plurality of annular hubs 1 which may be of aluminum, for example, having cylindrical outer faces 2 and cylindrical axial extensions 3 of reduced diameter provided with set screws 4 for securing such hubs to the usual arbor (not shown) fitting in central openingsS.

Secured to the wider end faces of each of such hubs by means of screws 6 is a sheet metal disc 7 of greater diameter than such hub and provided with a plurality of notches 8 in its outer periphery. Opposed tabs or cars 9 are left at the periphery of the disc when such notches. are punched out, such tabs or ears being bent in a direction axially of the disc but still projecting appreciably toward one another (Figs. 4 and 5).

The above-described hubs with their attached notched discs may be mounted upon an arbor with such notches in axial alignment or with such notches progressively offset so as. to define long lead helical alignments. The spacing of such hubs axially of the arbor will depend primarily upon the severity of use to which the brush assembly is to be subjected and accordingly the degree of support required for the same. Lengths of brush strip which may desirably be of the type described in my aforesaid Patent No. 2,303,386 comprising a sheet metal channelform back 10 having doubled about an elongated retaining element such as wire 12 secured therein by means of teeth 13 punched in from the respective channelform sides, may now be inserted in such aligned notches with the respective edges of the channel back closely fitting beneath the opposed. ears 9 to secure such brush strip in place. Such brush strip should, of course, be inserted in the same. direction in which tabs 9 are bent so that the brush material will not catch on the latter, and for the same reason such tabs should all be bent in the same direction in the several hub assemblies (Fig. 2). When it is desired to remove such strip from the mounting means, it will likewise be withdrawn in the same direction.

End guards or retaining means will desirably be provided to hold. the lengths of brush strip against axial shifting and may comprise fiat annular rings 14 having a plurality .of angular brackets 15 welded thereto and secured to the hubs 1 by the same screws 6/ which attach discs 7 thereto.

brush material 11 It will thus be seen that the lengths of brush strip are supported upon the outer peripheral cylindrical surfaces 2 of hubs 1 and are held in place against the action of centrifugal force by the tabs 9 which overlie the edges of. the channelform back element of the brush strip. Lateral support is afforded such strip by the sides of notches 8. Discs 7 will preferably be of reasonably thick gauge thus rigidly to support the lengths of brush strip with tabs 9 overlying an appreciable axial extent of the edges of the channelform brush strip back. To aiford the desired rigidity, such discs will ordinarily be of sheet steel.

It is obvious that a rotary brush construction as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 will be substantially self-ventilating in character. Additionally, the arbor upon which such assembly is adaptedto be mounted may be tubular and providedwith orifices for the discharge of fluids to the interior of the brush, such fluids being then driven outwardly under the influence of centrifugal force by the rapidly rotating brush.

Instead of being mounted upon an arbor for rotation, it Will likewise be apparent that a brush assembly constructed in accordance with my invention may similarly comprise lengths of brush strip mounted in alignments of like notches to provide a generally flat brush face, for example, a Wide variety of such modifications being readily apparent to those skilled in the art. An internal brush comprising substantially a reversal of the embodiment shown and described may obviously be produced by seating the lengths of brush strip in alignments of similar notches in the inner peripheries of the annular discs with the brush material projecting radially inwardly instead of outwardly. The brush strips are then of course supported against the inner peripheral surfaces of the hubs or collars which in turn may be mounted within an outer cylinder, if desired. This modification, constructed and operating on the same principle, is adapted to brush the outer surface of a tube or bar, for example.

The brush material 11 may be of any character, including, for example, wire, cord, tampico fiber, horsehair, nylon mono-filaments, and buff fabric. Fluids which may be delivered internally of the brush include air, water, oil, and finely divided abrasives, the latter generally being entrained in an appropriate gas or liquid.

The brush assembly, and particularly the rotary brush specifically illustrated and described, is inexpensive of construction, easy to assemble and disassemble, and easy to adjust to afford a desired long lead helical conformation to the generally axially extending lengths of brush strip. The discs, while ordinarily of uniform diameter, may vary somewhat in this respect to provide a slightly concave or convex contour to the brush axially of the same. Under such circumstances, the peripheral surfaces 2 of the hub members may be conical instead of truly cylindrical. The number and spacing of the notches in the peripheries of the discs will, of course, depend on how open or how compact a brush face is desired. While it is important that all tabs 9 of any one alignment project in the same direction, it is also more convenient if all alignments are uniform in this respect (Fig. 2). When this is the case, only one annular disc 14 (at the right-hand end of Fig. 2) need be employed since such tabs 9 will be quite effective in preventing withdrawal of the lengths of brush strip in the other direction. The

use of two such discs or end plates 14 is, however, preferred as they afford a better balanced and more rigid assembly.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of such be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

l. A rotary brush assembly adapted to be mounted on an arbor or the like comprising a plurality of annular discs arranged in axial alignment, said discs having notches in their outer peripheries with such notches forming a series of generally axially extending alignments, lengths of brush strip having elongated back portions seated in such .notches of such respective alignments with brush material extending generally radially therefrom, and tabs on said discs at each side of such notches projecting toward each other closely to overlie such back portions seated therein and thus to secure said lengths of brush strip in place, said tabs being turned to extend along and closely overlie an appreciable axial extent of such back portions, all said tabs of any one alignment being turned and extending in the same direction with the turned portions presenting convexly curved surfaces adapted to facilitate axial insertion of the brush strip.

2. A rotary brush assembly comprising a plurality of discs arranged in axial alignment, notches in the outer peripheries of said discs, lengths of brush strip having elongated back portions seated in such notches with brush material extending generally radially therefrom, said lengths of brush strip extending between and interconmeeting said discs, and tabs on said discs at each side of such notches projecting toward each other closely to overlie such back portions seated therein and thus secure said lengths of brush strip in place, said tabs being curved and turned in the same direction in each alignment to extend along and overlie an appreciable axial extent of such back portions and all extending in the same direction with inclined surfaces of the turned portions serving to facilitate axial insertion of the brush strip.

3. A rotary brush assembly comprising a plurality of hub members having generally cylindrical outer peripheral surfaces of substantial axial extent, said hub members being arranged in axial alignment, sheet metal discs respectively secured to end faces of said hub members and having notches in their outer peripheries with such notches forming a series of generally axially extending alignments, said discs being of greater diameter than the said corresponding hub members and such notches extending inwardly to such peripheral surfaces of said hub members, lengths of brush strip having elongated back portions seated in such notches and supported upon such peripheral surfaces with brush material extending generally radially therefrom, and tabs on said discs at each side of such notches projecting toward each other closely to overlie such back portions seated therein and thus to secure said lengths of brush strip in place, said tabs being turned to extend along and closely overlie an appreciable axial extent of such back portions, all said tabs of any one alignment extending in the same direction with inclined surfaces of said turned tabs serving to facilitate axial insertion of the brush strip in one direction only.

4. A rotary brush assembly comprising a plurality of hub members having generally cylindrical outer peripheral surfaces of substantial axial extent, said hub members being arranged in axial alignment, relatively thin sheet metal discs respectively secured to end faces of said hub members and having notches in their outer peripheries with such notches forming a series of generally axially extending alignments, said discs being of greater diameter than the said corresponding hub members and such notches extending inwardly to such peripheral surfaces of said hub members, lengths of brush strip having elongated back portions seated in such notches and supported upon such peripheral surfaces with brush material extending generally radially therefrom, and tabs on said discs at each side of such notches projecting toward each other closely to overlie such back portions seated therein and thus to secure said lengths of brush strip in place, said tabs being curved and turned to extend along and closely overlie an appreciable axial extent of such back portions, with said tabs in each alignment being thus turned in the same direction.

5. A rotary brush assembly comprising a plurality of hub members having generally cylindrical outer peripheral surfaces of substantial axial extent, said hub members being arranged in axial alignment, sheet metal discs respectively secured to end faces of said hub members and having notches in their outer peripheries with such notches forming a series of generally axially extending alignments, said discs being of greater diameter than the said corresponding hub members and such notches extending inwardly to such peripheral surfaces of said hub members, lengths of brush strip having elongated back portions seated in such notches and supported upon such peripheral surfaces with brush material extending generally radially therefrom, and tabs on said discs at each side of such notches projecting toward each other closely to overlie such back portions seated therein and thus to secure said lengths of brush strip in place, said tabs of each alignment being curved in the same direction longitudinally of said strip to facilitate axial insertion of said strip in such direction.

6. A rotary brush assembly comprising a plurality of hub members having generally cylindrical outer periph eral surfaces of substantial axial extent, said hub members being arranged in axial alignment, sheet metal discs respectively secured to end faces of said hub members and having notches in their outer peripheries with such notches forming a series of generally axially extending alignments, said discs being of greater diameter than the said corresponding hub members and such notches extending inwardly to such peripheral surfaces of said hub members, lengths of brush strip having elongated back portions seated in such notches and supported upon such peripheral surfaces with brush material extending. generally radially therefrom, tabs on said discs at each side of such notches projecting toward each other closely to overlie such back portions seated therein and thus to secure said lengths of brush strip in place, said tabs being turned to extend along and closely overlie an appreciable axial extent of such back portions, all said tabs of any one alignment extending in the same direction uniformly to present curved surfaces facilitating axial insertion of a said length of brush strip, and an annular disc secured to the endmost hub member at the end of the assembly toward which said tabs extend, said latter disc extending sufiiciently radially closely adjacent the ends of said lengths of brush strip to prevent axial withdrawal of the latter.

7. A rotary brush assembly comprising a plurality of hub members having generally cylindrical outer peripheral surfaces of substantial axial extent, said hub members being arranged in axial alignment, sheet metal discs respectively secured to end faces of said hub members and having notches in their outer peripheries with such notches forming a series of generally axially extending alignments, said discs being of greater diameter than the said corresponding hub members and such notches extending inwardly to such peripheral surfaces of said hub members, lengths of brush strip having elongated back portions seated in such notches and supported upon such peripheral surfaces with brush material extending generally radially therefrom, tabs on said discs at each side of such notches projecting toward each other closely to overlie such back portions seated therein and thus to secure said lengths of brush strip in place, said tabs being turned to extend along and closely overlie an appreciable axial extent of such back portions, all said tabs of any one alignment extending in the same direction uniformly to present curved surfaces facilitating axial insertion of a said length of brush strip, and annular discs removably secured to the respective endmost hub members and extending sufllciently radially closely adjacent the ends of said lengths of brush strip to prevent axial withdrawal of the latter.

8. A brush assembly comprising a base member having a surface of substantial length adapted to support the backs of lengths of brush strip thereagainst, sheet metal members projecting beyond such strip-supporting surface and normal thereto, said respective sheet metal members having notches therein extending inwardly to such surface with such notches forming a series of generally parallel alignments, lengths of brush strip having elongated back portions seated in such notches and supported against such surface with brush material extending outwardly therefrom, and tabs on said sheet metal members at each side of such notches projecting toward each other closely to overlie such back portions seated therein to secure said lengths of brush strip in place, said tabs being turned to extend along and closely overlie an appreciable axial extent of such back portions, all said tabs of any one alignment extending in the same direction uniformly to present curved surfaces facilitating axial insertion of a said length of brush strip.

9. A brush assembly comprising a base member having a surface of substantial length adapted to support the backs of lengths of brush strip thereagainst, sheet metal members projecting beyond such strip-supporting surface and normal thereto, said respective sheet metal members having notches therein extending inwardly to such surface with such notches forming a series of generally parallel alignments, lengths of brush strip having elongated back portions seated in such notches and supported against such surface with brush material extending outwardly therefrom, tabs on said sheet metal members at each side of such notches projecting toward each other closely to overlie such back portions seated therein to secure said lengths of brush strip in place, said tabs being turned to extend along and closely overlie an appreciable axial extent of such back portions, all said tabs of any one alignment extending in the same direction uniformly to present curved surfaces facilitating axial insertion of a said length of brush strip, and retaining means adapted to engage the ends of said lengths of brush strip to prevent axial withdrawal from such notches.

10. A brush assembly comprising a plurality of lengths of brush strip having elongated back portions arranged generally parallel to one another with brush material extending therefrom, flat sheet members extending in planes transversely of said brush strip back portions and interconnecting said back portions to form a unitary assern bly, said sheet members having notches therein with said back portions seated in said notches, and tabs on said sheet members at each side of said notches projecting toward each other and also bent generally parallel to one another in the same direction in each alignment and closely overlying said back portions to secure the same, said bent tabs presenting curved surfaces facilitating axial insertion of said strip in such direction.

11. A rotary brush assembly comprising a plurality of annular discs arranged in axial alignment, aligned notches in the edges of said discs, lengths of brush strip having elongated back portions seated in such notches with brush material extending generally radially therefrom, said lengths of brush strip extending between and interconnecting said discs, and tabs on said discs at each side of such notches projecting toward each other and also bent generally parallel to one another in the same direction in each alignment closely to overlie such back portions seated therein and thus secure said lengths of brush strip in place, said bent tabs presenting curved sur faces facilitating axial insertion of said strip in such direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 435,304 Hendershot Aug. 26, 1890 1,011,831 Murray Dec. 12, 19l1 FOREIGN PATENTS 109,394 Great Britain Mar. 2, 1917 

